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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 14, 2007

Brennan still '50-50' as NFL deadline looms

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wearing a black tuxedo and black tie, Colt Brennan yesterday strolled through Yale University's campus.

"This is pretty amazing," said Brennan, delivering a step-by-step telephone commentary to a Hawai'i reporter.

The Walter Camp Foundation, which named Brennan to its All-America second team, had invited the University of Hawai'i quarterback to its awards dinner. Even for this prestigious university, where the walls are ivy-covered and the blood is blue, the dinner was held at an elegant on-campus club.

"It's a pretty first-class event," said Brennan, who is mulling whether to join another exclusive club — the National Football League.

In a news conference tomorrow, Brennan will announce whether he will apply for the NFL draft or return to UH for his senior season.

Pressed for a what-if answer on ESPN's The Pulse yesterday, Brennan said: "If it's just hypothetically, I'd probably go to the NFL."

Later, Brennan told The Advertiser, he remains at "50-50."

"The guy put me on the spot," Brennan said. "He wanted an answer, and I said, 'fine, hypothetically, yeah.' It didn't mean anything. I'm just trying to get through the question, that's all."

Two months ago, Brennan said it was his "full intention" to play for the Warriors in 2007. But after strong performances against Purdue and Arizona State in the Hawai'i Bowl, and after setting six single-season NCAA records, including best pass-efficiency rating and most touchdown passes, Brennan's stock skyrocketed.

Several NFL scouts projected he would be one of the top three quarterbacks selected in the NFL draft. An NFL assessment committee, known for providing conservative evaluations for underclassmen, said Brennan would be a second-round selection.

"They're always not going to tell you how good you really are because they want you to come back (to school)," UH coach June Jones said.

Jones and Brennan met Wednesday, the day Brennan left for the Walter Camp dinner, and plan to meet tonight.

"I know he's wavering," Jones said. "There are pluses and minuses about both. He just has to weigh them and make a decision. He's in a win-win situation, I think. Hopefully, it won't be a real strenuous situation."

Brennan said: "The only thing that's stressful is it's not as easy a decision as I thought it would be. It's win-win, but it's really hard. It would be easier if there's something pushing me in a direction, like it was easy to see and clear.

"But all of the pros and cons I go through, it always ends up 50-50," he added. "No matter who says it or what someone says, it's always right down the middle."

Asked if Brennan is ready for the NFL, Jones said, "He's the best quarterback in college football."

Jones said Brennan's perceived low-throwing motion is not a problem. "He makes all of the throws," Jones said. "He's very accurate."

Asked about Brennan being labeled a "system" quarterback, Jones, co-creator of the four-wide passing offense, said: "There were two quarterbacks (Warren Moon, Jim Kelly) who played in this system who are in the Hall of Fame. Colt can play in any system."

Brennan accepted Jones' advice to wait until tomorrow, the draft-application deadline.

"I'm far from really sitting down and figuring it out," Brennan said. "I'm going to do it at the last possible moment to figure it all out."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.